CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Eighteen students from the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps class at Dreher High School, Columbia, S.C. visited multiple facilities around the base here to get a feel of what it’s like to be a Marine March 27.

The cadets slept in barracks, ate in dining facilities and were given a demonstration of some of the capabilities of the military working dogs. They were also given privileges to shop at the exchange, attend a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) course, and get hands on at the 2nd Marine Logistics Group Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer (ISMT).

“I like that we’re being taught everything everyone else is being taught, I feel like nothing is being held back,” said Hope Walker, a Columbia, S.C., native and the company executive officer with Dreher’s NJROTC program. “It’s so hands on, we get to put the [Mission Oriented Protective Posture] suits on, we get to put the gas masks on … we get to touch stuff.”

Mr. Frank Acevedo Jr., an operations specialist with the Operations and Plans Division for Marine Corps Installations East worked with the II Marine Expeditionary Force to arrange billeting and activities for the visitors.

“It gives [the cadets] an idea of what we do on base and what we do as Marines,” said Acevedo. “It provides them an outlook on what the military is about, not to tell them ‘Go! Go! Go! Marine Corps.’ No, we let them decide, this is just a tool to give them an idea of what this branch of service does, and what it can offer.”

While at the Provost Marshal’s Office K-9 kennels, the cadets were given a demonstration of the military working dogs’ high levels of agility with their handlers. One dog, named Chico, ran through an agility course. Robi, another dog, went through the course while sniffing for bombs and discovered one. The final dog, Duke, finished off the demonstration by taking down a simulated bad guy when given the command.

Later in the day, the cadets moved on to ISMT, where they learned about the Marine Corps’ individual weapons systems and how modern technology allows Marines to hone their marksmanship skills in a variety of simulated environments.

The tour also included a short obstacle course, which the cadets ran while wearing protective suits and gas masks, and demonstrations of decontamination procedures practiced by Marines in the field.

The cadets concluded their day just like many of the Marines here; they returned to their barracks rooms, where they finished off their last night on base.